Method and apparatus for use in the fabrication of light-conducting devices



W 2% w v April 25 2,980,957 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE FABRICATION INVENTOR JOHN w. HICKS, .12. BY

W. HICKS, JR

OF LIGHT-CONDUCTING DEVICES Filed Aug 11 1958 ATTORNEY on 1N; 65/2 United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE gag n lcisnols OF IJGHT-CONDUCTING DE- John W. Hicks, Jr., Fislrdale, Mass, assignor to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass., a voluntary as- Filed Aug. 1 1, 1958, Ser. No. 754,255

6 Claims. (Cl. 18-8) This invention relates to an improved method of manufacture of light-conducting fibers or filaments of glass or other similar heat-softenable light-conducting material having a relatively high index of refraction and having an outer layer or casing of glass or other similar heatsoftenable material of a relatively low index of refraction thereon and has particular reference to novel apparatus for carrying out said method.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide novel method and apparatus for forming light-conducting fibers or filaments of the above character comprising initially forming a rod of glass having a relatively low index of refraction or other heat-softenable material, supporting said rod internally of said tube, subjecting said assembled tube and rod to heat of an amount sufiicient to soften the glass or other material of said tube and simultaneously causing said tube to collapse into intimate fused relation with said rod.

Another object is to provide, in a method of the above character, the step of moving said rod and tube assembly at a controlled rate of speed through a heating unit and for simultaneously creating a relatively high vacuum to be drawn between said rod and tube for causing the tube, as it is heated by said heating unit, to progressively collapse into intimate contact and into fused relation with the rod and for simultaneously outgasing and preventing any pocketing of air, gases or the like between said tube and rod.

Another object is to provide, in a method of the above character, the step of initially shaping the rod to a predetermined cross-sectional shape and thereafter causing said tubular casing to collapse and fuse to said rod and to simultaneously assume the contour shape of the preshaped rod.

Another object is to provide, in a method of the above character, the step of creating a relatively high vacuum between the rod and tube to introduce a drawing force on the tube while simultaneously drawing a vacuum of a controlled lesser amount between the tube and an outer sealed housing whereby the collapsing of said tube by said'high vacuum may be regulated in such a manner as to insure outgasing of air or other gases from between the casing and rod during the progressive heating and collapsing of said tube.

Another object is to provide, in a method of the above character wherein the cross-sectional shape of the rod and tube are initially circular in shape when in collapsed fused relation with each other, the step of directing said fused rod and tube assembly into a heating chamber and between shaping rollers in said chamber for altering the cross-sectional shape of said assembly in accordance with the pre-controlled shape characteristics of the rollers, the heat in said chamber being controlled in accordance with the softening characteristics of the glasses of said rod and tube assembly and in accordance with the 'speed of movement of said assembly through the heating chamber and further controlling the temperature of said shaping rollers and the materials thereof so as to main- 2,980,957 Patented Apr. 25, .1961

tain them substantially at the annealing temperature of the glasses to avoid heat shock and breakage of said glasses and to prevent the glasses from sticking to said rollers during said shaping operation.

Another object is to provide, in a method of the above character, a neutral atmosphere in said heating chamber particularly in instances when the shaping rollers are formed of graphite or of a metal coated with graphite to reduce the tendency of said graphite to burn out and to further prevent adhering of the rod and tube assembly to said rollers.

Another object is to provide, in a method of the above character, the further step of heating said rod and tube assembly after said shaping step to a temperature which is such as to permit said assembly to be drawn down to a smaller cross-sectional diameter and to the ultimate cross-sectional size desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal side-elevational view of apparatus which may be used in carrying out the method of the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken as on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 through the initial rod and tube assembly.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken as on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrating one set of forming rollers for controlling the cross-sectional shape of the fused rod and tube assembly; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a modified form of shaping roller which may be used in accordance with the invention.

One of the major problems in forming a coating of a relatively low index of refraction on a high index lighttransrnitting fiber or filament has been that of producing a coating or cladding of a substantially uniform controlled thickness with respect to the cross-sectional thickness of the ultimate fiber or filament and to prevent the trapping of air, gases or foreign material such as dirt, dust, etc. between said claddings and said fibers or filaments during the fabrication thereof.

The present invention, therefore, has for its primary object the provision of a novel method and apparatus for attaining the above results in a simple and elficient manner and for carrying out the steps of cladding, shaping and the drawing down of the rod and tube assembly to the ultimate cross-sectional shape and size of the fiber or filament desired while avoiding all of the difiiculties set forth above.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the various views, the invention relates in part to apparatus comprising an outer housing 5 preferably of fused quartz or similar high melting transparent material. The housing is in the form of a tubular support in which a suitable holder 6 is slidably mounted. The holder 6 is provided with a plunger 7 extending through a sealed opening 8 in the top of the housing. The holder is provided centrally with a retaining ring 9 of rubber or the like in which one end of a rod of high index core glass 10is fitted and held and the outer surface of the rod 10 is optically polished and thoroughly cleaned prior to the placing of the same in the housing 5. The holder 6 further comprises a similar ring 11 of rubber or like material in which the upper end of an outer low-index tubular glass member 12 which has been thoroughly cleaned to be free of dirt and dust is positioned and held in substantially concent'ric spaced relation with the inner core 10. The plunger 7 is provided with an internal passageway 13 communicating with the space '14 between the rod-like member 10 and tubular member 12 and a vacuum line 13; is con-- nected to the plunger 7 with a fitting'lEib so as to provide means for producing a relatively high vacuum in the 'space 14 between the members lid and 12. 'lhere s also provided a vacuum line 15 communicating with theriip'ace between the'housing and the tubular member 12 whereby the suction pull of the high vacuum which is drawn from the space is and on the tubular member l2 may be. counteracted by the simultaneous drawing of con the glasses of the rod and tubular member to become.

softened to an extent whereby the high vacuum in the space 14 which is of an amount greater than the vacuum in the space 16 will cause the tubular member 32 to collapse in an upward direction thereby causing any air or other gases which might be present between the rod lid and aubular member 112 to be drawn outwardly by the relativelyhigh vacuum simultaneous to said collapsing and wherein the said tubular member will assume an intimate fused contact with the rod. By providing the relatively high vacuum in the space dd while simultaneously controlling the rate of collapsing of the tubular member 12 with the low vacuum in the space lo, a substantially perfect interface which is free of air or gas bubbles or the like will result since all air or gases which might rorm during the heating'of the rod and tubular member will be forced upwardly by the upward collapsing of the tubular member 12 and be drawn outwardly of the space lid by the vacuum in line 13a. Furthermore, by initially thoroughly cleaning the rod in and tubular member 12 prior to placing the same in the housing 5, the rod and tubular member will be maintained dirt and dust free by the housing 5 during the fusing operation to further insure a perfectly formed interface between the fused parts of the rod and tubular member. An opening lid is pro vided at the lower. end of the housing 5 through which the collapsed lower portion of the tubular member 12 and rod assembly is slowly moved in a downward direction simultaneous to said heating and collapsing at a'controlled rate by suitable motivating means 119 associated with the plungerfF. The motivating means ill? has been shown, for purposes or illustration, to embody an arm Zil'having one of its ends secured by a set screw or the like Ell to the plunger-5 and furtherhaving a assess"? peratu'res which are used in accordance with said glasses to produce a fusion between the joinedsurfaces oi the rod l0 and tubular member 12. More specific examples of types of glasses, temperatures and rates of lowering will.

be given as this description progresses.

Beneath the housing 5 and in communication with the opening lid, there is provided a second heating zone in theform of a chamber 282 having heating collect the like 2% and a set of shaping rollers 3d therein by means of which the fused assembly or structure 311 of the rod lid and tubular member 12 may be shaped to a predet ermined desired cross-sectional contour.

lead screw 22 and a guide spindle 23 passing through its opposite end. The lead screw 22 is threadedly engaged .in the arm 20 at 23a and is journaled at its upper and lower ends .in stationary supporting'brackets 24 and 25 which areimmovably mounted relative'to the housing 5 whereas the spindle 23 passes through an opening 26 in the arm 20 which is machined to provide a close sliding Y fit between the arm 2b and spindle '23. The upper and lower ends of the spindle 23 are press-fitted or otherwise secured in the respective brackets 24 and 25 Whfilfl? by the spindle 23' will provide means for guiding the arm 20 when the same is raised or lowered by rotation of the -lead screw 22.1 Drive means in the form of a belt and pulleyarrangement 27 which is connected to the lowerend of the-lead screw 22 and to a suitable drive motor orthe-like, notshown, isprovided to rotate the screw 22 and thereby lower the arm 20, plunger 7 and holder 6 assembly to lower the rod wand tubular rnem- 4 [her 12 through the heating zone produced by the ring 317 the rodltl and member l2 constructed andthe tem- The heating chamber 28 is further provided with an opening 52 communicating with a lower ring-like heating element 33 having a hollow bore aligned with the opening 32. The opening 32 and heating ring 33 are aligned relative to the rollers 36 and opening 18 so as to receive the structure 31 after passing through the shapinc rollers Sid. The heating element 33, which provides a third heating zone through which the structure 31. is passed, is adapted to heat the structure 31 to a fiber drawing viscosity whereby said structure may be drawn in the direction of the arrow 34 at a rate greater than the rate at which the structure 31 is fed through the chamber 2% so as to form a glass clad fiber 35 of a smaller cross-sectional dimension than that of the structure 31. j

The term fiber as referred to herein is to be interpreted as including all light-conducting elements which are relatively small in cross-sectional dimension as compared to their length regardless of their cross-sectional configurations.

In performing the fusing, shaping and drawing operations discussed briefly hereinabove, the-rod lid and tubular member 12 are selected to be ofthe desir'ed'combination of glasses having high and low indices of refraction, which when ultimately drawn into fiber form, will provide an element or fiber readily adaptable to transfer light through its core part while being provided with a light-insulating coating or cladding to prevent said light or portions thereof from straying outwardly of the fiber. A fiber having a core of flint glass with an index of refraction of 1.69 coatedv or clad with a soda-lime glass such as is used in laboratory tubing and of a thick=.

ness approximately 10% that ot'the-outer diameter of the structure 31 will provide a very desirable and useful structure readily adaptable for many applications of use. The above mentioned glasses will be referred to hereinafter as examples of glasses which may be combined to form light-insulated or clad light-conducting fibers,' it

sired thickness of cladding 3512 upon the finally formed fiber 35, the rod lb and tubular member are thoroughly cleaned and supported within the housing S'as described above. The rod lb and tubular'member 12 are com. plementary in shape and are illustrated as being circular in cross-section as seen in Pig. 2. However, they may alternately be square; hexagonal, octagonal or of any other desired shape. When properly supported the housing 5, the heating unit 17 is energized to heat,

the rod to and tubular member 12 to fusable temperatures while the vacuums are pulled in the spaces 14 and lo and the holder 6 is simultaneously slowly lowered at a speed controlled according to the temperature of heating and the softening characteristics-of the glass so as to cause said speed to keep pace with the collapsing and fusing of the tube with the rod. i

assaesr It is pointed out that to begin the operation inst described, it is desirable to seal the lower end of the rod 1% and tube 12 assembly to close off the lower end of the space 14 and thereby permit a vacuum to be immediately drawn in said space at the time the glass reaches ble temperatures. The lower end of the rod id and r HE may be sealed by appl g llama heat thereto squeezing the tube r'irmly against the rod prior to the placing oi rod and tube the housing 5.

With the rod Hill) and tubular member 12 in place as shown in Fig. l, the lower ends thereof (for the example of glasses given above) should be heated to approximately 1300 F. by the heating unit 17 just prior to the collapsing of the tubular member 12 onto the rod by the vacuum within the space 14. At such a temperature, the glass of the tubular member 12 will fuse immediately to the rod in when coming into contact therewith and the vacuum in the space 16 is controlled to hold the glass of the tubular member 12 away from the rod w until the proper temperature of the tubular member. and rod is reached at which time theviscosity of the, tube glass will be such as to cause the tube to collapse, in defiance oi the pulling force of the vacuum in the space-lei The rate oi descent'ot the holder 6 is controlled (approximately /e, of an inch per minute) to cause the complete *collapse of the tube 12 to occur within the heating zone produced by the heating unit 17 whereupon the portion =;,oi' the tube extending upwardly therefrom will take on a substantially conical shape as it becomes partially collapsed. This conical shape, due to the various degrees of collapse along the length of the tube 12 causes gases "or the like which may be present in the space M to be forced upwardly or actually squeezed out from between the tube and rod and evacuated by the vacuum line 13a thereby providing a clean interface which is free of {trapped air or gas bubbles between the fused surfaces of the rod and tube.

.Tlt is pointed out that by forming the housing d of a ''transparent material such as fused quartz, the tubular member i2 may be viewed through the housing whereby a visual check on the collapsing of the member 12 may be had so as to permit an operator to adjust the high and low' vacuums in the respective spaces 14 and lo and thereby control the degree or rate of collapsing of the member 12;

As the .fused part of the rod 10 and tube 12 combination, which make up the structure 31, is lowered into the heating chamber 28, its temperature is lowered by a reduced temperature which is maintained in the chamber 28. For a structure 3i which is formed of the above mentioned glasses a temperature of approximately 1100 F. is maintained in the chamber 28. in any case, the temperature within the chamber 285 should be approximately 150 Prabove the annealing point of the glasses of the structure Sill so as to avoid a rapid cooling thereof as it leaves the housing 5 and prevent a cracking of the glasses which might occur in relatively large structures of heated glass when thermally shocked. I

By reducing the temperature of the structure 3)]. to approximately 150 F. above the annealing point of the rod Elli, said structure 31 will retain its shape without appreciably sagging or otherwise distorting while being of a viscosity suitable for reshaping, Upon passing through the set of rollers 3b (Fig. 3), the structure 31 may be readily reformed or shaped to any desired crosssectional configuration without destroying the proportionate thicknesses of the core and cladding parts thereof. While inFig'J the shaping rollers 3d are such as to form the structure 3i into a square" cross-sectional shape, it is Lobe-understood that various difierent shapes of rollers maybe-usedtor producingother cross-sectional x shape as desiredhv I 5- p in Pig. 3,; only one set of shipihg rollers 3t) has been shown to illustrate the invention, however, in certain casesit may be desirable to pass the structurefill through more than one set of rollers such as 39. For example, the structure 311 may be passed through a first set of rollers adapted to reform the same to the generalcross ture 31 leaving the housing 5 must be drastically changed prior to being drawn into a fiber 35. Alternatively, the rod it? which is used to form the core part of the structure'3l may be initiallysliaped substantially to the crosssectional shape desired of the fiber 35 whereupon the tubular member 12 will, when collapsed and fused to the rod lltl, assume the general shape of the rod w. This will provide the part'of the structure dill leaving the-housing 5 with the general cross-sectional shape desired of the fiber 35 whereupon a single set of rollers 3d may be provided to true up the shape of structure hi just prior to the drawing of the fiber 335. In any case, whatever shape is finally imparted to the structure till-just prior to the drawing of the fiber'dd will determine the final cross-sectional shape of the fiber 35 since the fiber 35 will retain the cross-sectional shape of the structure 31 regardless of the extent to which it is drawn. Furthermore, the relative thickness of the core 35a and cladding 35b of the fiber 35 will retain the same proportions as the core and claddingparts of the structure 31.

The rollers 3t) which are used for shaping the structure 31 may be formed of graphite, steel with an outer coating of graphite, titanium carbide or other known materials suitable for glass reforming or shaping operations.

When using graphite rollers, caution must be taken to prevent the material of the rollers from burning oil in the chamber 28 if'the temperature in said chamber is raised above 1100 F. Since certain combinations of glasses used to form the structure 31 may require reform-,

a possible trace of oxygen or other known neutral at,

mospheric gases which are fed into the chamber under a slight pressure by a suitable pipeline 36.

-. if the rollers 37 are constructed of titanium carbide" which is more durable and longer lasting than graphite, means must be provided to prevent such rollers from sticking to the glass of the structure 31. A simple solution to the problem of sticking is to provide means for maintaining the rollers 30 (when formed of titanium carbide) at a temperature substantially equal to the annealing temperatures of the glasses of the structure 311. Since as mentioned above, .it' is desirable to maintain a temperature within the chamber 28 approximately F; higher than the annealing point of the glasses of the structure 311, the rollersitb must be continuously cooled. In Fig. 4 there is illustrated a roller 37 having a body part 338 of titanium carbide press-fitted or otherwise secured to a shaft 39 which may be formed of a dilierent material than that of the body part 38. A pair of longitudinally extending channels as and at are drilled or otherwise formed in the shaft till so as to open outwardly of the shaft all at its end opposite to the body 38- and to terminate at a location adjacent the end of the shaft 39 which passes through the part 38. A lateral passage'- way 42 is drilled through a side of the shaft or otheras indicated by arrows id to dispel some of the heat produced in the part 358 by the heated atmosphere in the It drilled as illustrated, the passageway $2 is plugged assess? chamber Ztl and the engaging glass of the structure 3i. By properly controlling the rate of flow of the coolant through the shaft 39 the part 38 may be maintained at a relatively constant desired temperature.

it is pointed out that in cases where extremely high temperatures are required in the chamber 28, ducts or the like may be provided in the the part 3% so as to inte connect with the channels 453 All thereby permit g a iiow oi the coolant through both the shaft 359 part 32?; to provide a greater area. of contact between the parts of the rollers 37 and the coolant. in this nor the glass contacting surfaces of the rollers may be morerapidly cooled.

Following the glass shaping operation wherein the structure $1 is passed between the forming rollers 3b, the structure is directed downwardly through an opening 4% in the base of the chamber 28 and through the heating ring 33 which is heated to a temperature such that the glasses oi the structure 31 come to a suitable fiber drawing viscosity. For the glasses which were given hereinabove as illustrative of the invention, a temperature of approximately 180W IE. will render the structure 31 suitably viscous for fiber drawing.

Thefiber 35 is drawn by gripping the lower end of the structure Sll at the heating ring 33 and pulling the same downwardly at a relatively rapid rate as compared to the rate of loweringof the structure :11 through the opening 45. It is pointed out that the cross-sectional size of the fiber 35 will be dependent upon the difference between the rate at which the structure 31 is lowered and the rate at which the fiber 35 is drawn. For a given rate oflowering, the fiber size may be varied by increasing or decreasing the rate of drawing. Slower drawing rates will produce larger fibers and vice versa. it is also pointed out that by initially accurately forming the struc tu're 31 to a particular desired cross-sectional shape and having properly proportioned core and cladding parts such as, for example, a cladding which is as thick as the overall thickness of the structure 311, the resultant fiber 35. When drawn, will accurately assume the crosssectional. shape of the structure 311 and also accurately retain the proportionate thicknesses of its core and cladremain substantially A as thick as the overall dimension of the structure Elli.

With the apparatus and method set forth hereinabove combinations of glasses which would ordinarily require annealing when in large sizes, such as the structure 31, may be directly drawn into fibers without annealing in accordance with this invention.

By the practice of this invention a light-insulated or clad ligbt-conducting fiber may be rapidly, accurately and efficiently formed to any desired cross-sectional dimension or shape directly from stock materials and the stock materials (particularly the rod W from which the light-conducting portion of the fiber is formed) may be examined for flaws or other defects before being used so as to assure the forming of fibers of an exceptionally high degree of optical quality. Furthermore by selecting a rod MD and tubular member 12 whose relative thicknesses are uniform throughout'their lengths and are directly proportioned in size to the desired cross-sectional dimensions desired of the core and cladding parts of the fiber to be formed therefrom, said fiber will automatically be accurately formed uniformly proportioned throughout its length with the desired relative proportionate thicknesses of core and cladding parts regardless of the extent or size to which the fiber is drawn or the shape to which it is formed.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that simple, efiicient and economical means and method have been provided for accomplishing all the objects and advantages of the invention. Nevertheless, it should be apparent that many changes in the details of construction, arrangement iii of parts or steps in the method may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims and the invention is not to be limited to the exact matters.

said first heating zone to reach fusible temperatures and a said portion of said tubular member to become readily collapsible, creating a controlled relatively high vacuurn in said space between said members to introduce a drawing force on said tubular member and further creating a controlled relatively low vacuum in said enclosure to controllably partially counteract said drawing force and cause said tubular member to be progressively collapsed into fused relation with said rod-like member so as to outgas said space between said members immediately pripr to the fusion of said tubular member to said. rod-likelinember while passing through said first heating zone thereby forming an integral structure of said tubular and redlike members which is free of pocketed gases, passing said structure through a second heating zone and simultaneously shaping the same to a desired cross-sectional shape, further passing said shaped structure through a third heating zone adapted to heat said shaped structure to a fiber-drawing viscosity and drawing said structure to a fiber size.

2. Apparatus of the character described comprising a housing, a plunger slidably fitted within said housing, means for moving said plunger longitudinally within said housing, holding means on said plunger for supporting-a tubular member of heat-soitenable material longitudinally within said housing and for simultaneously supporting a smaller rod-like member of heat-softenablema terial centrally within said tubular member, means for creating a vacuum between said rod and tubular members, heating means surrounding the. sides of said housing ad= iacent one of its ends, said heating means being adapted to heat said rod and tubular members to fusible temperatures, said housing having an opening in its end adjacent said heating means through which said rod and tubular members may be passed, a heating chamber communicating with said opening in said housing for receiving said members and for temperature-conditioning the same to suitable re-shaping temperatures, shaping means adapted to shape said members when passed therebetween and means for heating said shaped members to a fiber-drawing viscosity.

3. Apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having an opening at one end thereof, holding means for supporting a. tubular member of heat-softenable material longitudinally within said housing and for simultaneously supporting a smaller rod-lilre member of heat-softenable material centrally within said tubular member with its side surfaces substantially equally spaced from the inner side walls of said tubular member, means for creating a relatively high vacuum between said rod and tubular members and for creating a relatively low vacuum between said housing and tubular member, heat-' ing means adapted to heat said rod and tubular members to fusible temperatures while in said housing, means for progressively moving said rod and tubular members endwise outwardly of said housing through said opening therein, temperature-conditioning means adapted to receive said members from said housing and condition the same for reshaping, shaping rollers within said tempera l and a. larger tubular use ture-conditioning means having precontrolled shape characteristics adapted to receive said rod and tubular members from said temperature-conditioning means and shape the same in accordance with the shape characteristics of said rollers and heating means into which said members are passed from said rollers and heated to a fiber-drawing viscosity.

4. Apparatus of the character described comprising a housing having a support mounted for longitudinal movement therein, means on said support for holding a tubular member of heat-softenable material and a smaller rodlike member of heat-softenable material substantially in axial alignment with each other within said tubular member, means for moving said support and said members longitudinally in said housing, means for creating a relatively high vacuum between said tubular member and redlike member and a relatively low vacuum between said tubular members and housing and means for heating said tubular member and rod-like member to a temperature sufiicient to fuse said members together upon contact with each other and permit said relatively high vacuum under control of said relatively low vacuum to collapse the tubu lar member into intimate contact with the rod-like member.

5. The method of making a light-conducting device comprising supporting an initially solid rodlike member of heat softenable light-conducting material endwise sub" stantially centrally within the inner side walls of an in tially continuous relatively thin solid walled tubular member of heat softenable light conducting material and in vertically aligned relation with the heating zone of a heating unit, continually drawing a vacuum of a controlled amount within said tubular member while progressively moving said tubular member and said heating unit relative to each other in a direction longitudinally of said tubular member from adjacent the lower end of the tubular member towards its opposite end and to simultaneously remove air or other gases and the like from within said tubular member, controlling the temperature in said heating zone and said related progressive movement so as to cause said assembled rodlike member and tubular member to be progressively heated throughout the major portion of the length thereof by an amount sutficient to permit said tubular member to progressively collapse in response to the pull of the vacuum and to intimately fuse onto said rodlike member as said progressive movement and heating takes place and simuli taneously drawing said fused members endwise to a desired reduced crosssectional size.

6, The method of making a light-conducting device comprising supporting an initially solid rodlike member of glass having a relatively high index of refraction centrally within and substantially equally spaced from the inner side walls of a larger initially solid relatively thin walled tubular member of glass having a relatively low index of refraction continually drawing a vacuum within said tubular member while simultaneously progressively moving said supported members endwise at a precontrolled rate through a first heated zone, controlling the heat produced within said zone in such manner as to render the portion of said tubular member collapsible onto said rodlike member under the influence of said vacuum and simultaneously fusible to said rodlike member upon engagement therewith to form an integral structure of said members as they pass through said first heated zone, directing said structure through a second heating zone, controlling the heat in said second zone to bring the glasses of said structure to a temperature below that required for said fusion thereof but sufiicient to retain said structure in a softened reshapabie state, shaping said structure to a desired cross-sectional configuration while in said second heating zone, directing said shaped structure through a third heating zone, controlling the heat in said third heating zone in' such manner as to reader I" the glasses of said shaped structure suitably viscous for drawing and drawing said structure endwise to a reduced cross-sectional size.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,565,307 Blair Dec. 15, 1925 1,663,628 Ferngren Mar. 27, 1938 2,313,296 Lamesch Mar. 9, 1943 2,471,752 Ingmanson May 31, 1949 2,502,312 Danner Mar. 28, 1950 2,780,889 Fulk Feb. 12, 1957 2,825,260 OBrien Mar. 4, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,838 Italy Aug. 11, 1954 $20,564:, Italy Mar. 22, 1955 239,719 Switzerland Feb. 18, 1958 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE "OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,980,957 April 25, 1961 John W. Hicks, Jr.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above mmbereii patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read. as

corrected below.

Column 1, line 26, after "relatively" insert high index of refraction or other similar heat-softenable light-conducting material, forming a tubular member of glass having a relatively Signed and sealed this 29th day of Augustl967.

( AL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesfing Offienr EDWARD-J. BRENNER C(immiseioner -."0f Patents 

